Halloween may still be a while off, but Google Chrome is already giving us quite the scare. Many people have reported seeing a rather ominous notification that Chrome will start showing ads based on their browsing history data. Spooky, right?
Now, you might be thinking, ‘What’s the big deal?’ Well, this means that our private online browsing activity, from that late-night pizza order to the search for ‘how to get cat sick off the sofa’, will be used to show us specific ads. The horror.
But it gets worse. Chrome isn’t exactly clear about how often it will access your history. Not cool.
Internet privacy experts agree, calling this move a massive violation of privacy. Imagine you’re at a party, and someone you barely know starts talking about your most recent Internet searches. Creepy, isn’t it?
To add salt to the wound, opting out of this data collection process isn’t as easy as saying ‘boo!’ The buttons presented don’t clearly indicate how to prevent Google from treating your data like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
If you’re looking to opt-out of this haunting experience, here are some steps to follow:
1. Click on the three dots at the top of your Chrome window and choose Settings
2. Go to Privacy and security in the left-hand side menu
3. Select Ad privacy
4. In the next menu, select Ad topics
5. Toggle the top Ad privacy setting off (if it’s on). This should stop Chrome from showing you recommended ads
This whole ordeal might even make you consider switching browsers. But beware, many other browsers aren’t exactly ghost-free zones either.
There’s a fine line between useful personalisation and downright creepiness. We need to strike a balance that respects user privacy while still delivering relevant ads.
Would this make you switch browser?
#GoogleChrome #privacy #BrowsingHistory
https://www.techradar.com/computing/browsers/is-google-chrome-violating-your-privacy-scary-new-notification-spooks-users-heres-what-you-can-do
